Apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like



D. F. O'KEEFE 2,685,437

APPARATUS FOR EMULSIFYING SODIUM METAL AND THE LIKE Aug. 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1951 INVENTOR:

W0 A 0 ji'E/E ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED sr ATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR EMULSIFYING SODIUM METAL AND THE LIKE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like with an inert liquid, such for example as toluene, kerosene and White oil.

It has heretofore been proposed to mix sodium metal or the like with a dispersion medium within a vessel of inert liquid thereby guarding against dangerous reactions some times encountered in the treatment of sodium metal and the like, especially where by any chance water comes into contact with the sodium. The methods and apparatus heretofore employed for carrying out this proposal have not been satisfactory in prac tice. They have been uneconomical and ineiiicient in operation and have fallen short of successfully producing a true emulsion and have achieved what is more accurately defined as a suspension or a very imperfect dispersion.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide improved method and apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like in an inert liquid.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea tures of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and in the several steps and relation and order of each of said steps to one or more of the others thereof, all as will be pointed out in the following description, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection with the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational embodying my invention with parts of the receptacle in cross section;

Figure l is a detailed view in cross section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the conduits more or less schematically disposed, a an aid in illustrating them; and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure l.

The embodiment of the invention shown herein comprises the liquid receptacle it, having mounted within it, below the liquid level of said receptacle, the stator I2 mounted on a wall of the receptacle by screws M. A shaft i6 extends through the said wall of receptacle Ill and has mounted on its inner end the rotor l8 positioned for rotation within said stator i2. The rotor 58 is cone view of apparatus liquid Stream, N. 35., assignor shaped and the space between it and the stator is adjustable by movement of shaft It axially.

Covering the front end of said stator-rotor combination is a cap 20 having an inlet 22 which opens into the annular passage 24 which communicates with the space 25 between said stator and rotor.

Within stator 12 an outlet passage or chamber 28 is provided communicating with the discharge end of the space 26 between the stator and rotor, to receive liquid which has been treated in said space, and a discharge conduit at is provided leading from said discharge chamber 28 through the wall of receptacle It to a point outside said receptacle. As shown cap 2 has an annular flange 2t and the stator i2 has an annular flange 12 and screws 14 extend through said flanges and through the wall of the receptacle Iii, and may be extended externally of receptacle It through the annular flange 32 of a housing 34 within which said shaft i5 is mounted for rotation.

Within receptacle ill a tank to is provided which is connected with the said inlet 22 of said cap by conduit 42 controlled by the plug cock M. which is mounted at the lower end of valve stem 46 which is screw threadedly engaged in the cover of tank 40 and is raised or lowered by rotation of valve control handle lt.

Tank 40 is connected with a reservoir 58 by conduit 52 and coil 54, which is positioned within receptacle I0, and, at its lower end, opens into the vertically disposed conduit 5% having therein a plug cock (not shown) controlled by valve handle 58. At its upper end conduit 56 communicates with conduit from which branches downwardly the conduit 52, which, at its lower end, communicates with said tank 49, and which is controlled by a plug cock (not shown) actuated by the valve handle 64.

As shown herein there is also provided within receptacle ill a second tank 153, which at its bottom has an outlet opening into vertically extending conduit '52 which, after passing a plug cock (not shown) controlled by valve handle it, becomes, or is in communication with, said horizontally extending conduit 6i It will thus be seen that liquid from reservoir 5Q may be fed by gravity into tank ii! through conduit 52, coil 55, and conduits 56, 6t and 62, at which time the plug cocks controlled by valve handles 58 and E4 should be open and the plug cock controlled by handle it closed. It will also be seen that liquid from tank ii) can be fed into tank it through conduits l2 and 52 at which 3 time the plug cocks controlled by valve handles 14 and 64 should be open and the plug cocks controlled by valve handle 53 should be closed.

Also positioned within receptacle it and below the liquid level of said receptacle is a pump, indicated generally by the numeral 86, which may be driven in any suitable way as by shaft 32, pulley 34, and belt 86 actuated by a source of power not shown. Pump 8:? is connected to tank 49, by conduit 99 which opens directly into tank 43 near its lower end, and by conduit 92 which communicates with conduit 86, and thus liquid within tank 4t may be circulated and recirculated through conduit 9!), pump 30, conduit 92 and conduits 68 and $2, at which time the plug cocks controlled by valve handles 58 and '54 should be closed and valve handle 64 open.

As shown herein the greater part of the wall of receptacle it, except where prevented by connections, comprises the outer wall it and the inner wall M between which insulation ii is provided, and within receptacle H} the heating units H30, H32, and 5134 are provided to heat the inert liquid with which said receptacle is filled when in use, to cause said liquid to serve as a heat transfer medium as well as a covering and protective medium for the apparatus contained within receptacle it, during the performance of the method steps set forth herein. As shown herein the heating units m9, m2 and I534 are metal rods projecting from terminals lat, Hi2 and "M which are screwed into apertures provided for them in a wall of receptacle i0, and heated electrically through conductors, not shown, but which may be led from the control thermostat, indicated generally by numeral [05, mounted on top of the receptacle, to said heating units through the conduits I06 156, and 506 It will be understood that the liquid medium within receptacle l0, heated as by said heating units 500, m2 and H34, surrounds tanks id and H3, and coil 54 communicating between reservoir 56 and tank 48, as well as submerging conduits 72, 6t and 62 leading from tank "iii to tank 40, and pump 80, and conduits 90 and 92 through which liquid from tank as may be circulated, and the stator l2 including the inlet 22 to the space 26 between stator I2 and rotor l3, and conduit 42 leading to said cap inlet 22. To maintain all parts of the liquid in receptacle lo at the same temperature agitating means may be provided. In Figure 3, a fluid propellor it? is shown rotatably mounted within receptacle H], on shaft ifil' having thereon pulley Hll driven by belt I33 from pulley 589* on the driven shaft ll'lil of motor M9.

The mixture of liquids to be emulsified may be led to the space 25 between the stator and rotor from any source or sources, and the method disclosed herein is not dependent upon the position of said source or sources. However, the provision of tanks 4!] and 1c within receptacle It and submerged in oil or other inert liquid within said receptacle, together with the conduits interconnecting them and connecting tank 4!! to the circulation pump means, and with the inlet 22 of cap for the rotor and stator combination, is an important part of my apparatus providing as it does a high measure of safety in the processing of materials such for example as sodium metal, which, as is well known, must be treated as if it were pyrophoric when in a state of subdivision as obtained with the apparatus disclosed herein.

Within the housing 34, which is external to receptacle E0, the drive shaft 56 passes through a chamber H6 which is open at the top. Within this chamber is a packing gland H2 around the drive shaft, and a conduit 8 M is provided extending through the wall of receptacle I 3 above chamber iHl, through which inert liquid with which receptacle H3 is filled is continuously supplied from receptacle ill to said chamber, while the apparatus is in use, to wet and cool the packing comprising said gland H2. The liquid is returned to receptacle It from said chamber H6 through conduit H6, pump H8, and conduit I20. See Figures 1 and 2. Pump H3 is driven by shaft I22 having thereon gear 124 which meshes with a worm 26 on shaft I28 which is driven through gear i383, chain I32, and gear 434, from the driven shaft I36 of the motor M which, through the clutch indicated generally by numeral I38, rotates said shaft [6. The numeral Mil indicates generally, means, including a -con trol wheel, for adjusting the position of shaft is longitudinally of housing 34, but these means are not described in detail as they are fully set forth in U. S. Patents No. 1,807,773 and No. 2,231,421, and form no part of this invention.

In carrying out the method of this application tank it may be utilized to melt material to be emulsified, and which is in solid state at room temperature, such for example as sodium metal. Tank 453 may be supplied with an inert emulsifying medium, such for example as toluene, kerosene or while oil, as from reservoir 50, and pump may be employed in drawing into tank 40 from reservoir 50 the amount of emulsifying medium which it is desired to mix with sodium or the like in liquid phase, conveniently drawing it from tank 70 after it has been melted therein, the melting being accomplished by heat transfer from the oil or other inert liquid with which receptacle II] is filled, and which is heated by the electrically controlled heating rods E00, I02 and 1104, as has been described.

The covers H and 4! for said tanks 79 and 49 respectively are provided with connections through which a fluid such for example as nitrogen gas may be introduced into and exhausted from said tanks. Thus cover TI is shown in Figure 2 provided with an inlet conduit M13, and an outlet conduit I42, and the cover 4! is shown with an inlet conduit I44 and an outlet conduit E46. During the use of the apparatus comprising this invention, desirably beginning just before the liquids to be emulsified are introduced into the system, nitrogen gas is continually pumped into tanks 70 and 40 as a safety measure, to remove any oxygen from the conduits, tanks and all parts of the system. The nitrogen also serves as a dispensing agent and is thus helpful in a positive way in carrying out the steps of the process.

After a batch of sodium metal or the like has been melted in tank 16, and after a desired amount of inert emulsifying liquid has been drawn into tank 4% from reservoir 58, the melted sodium or the like is drawn into tank 40 where it is thoroughly mixed with the emulsifying medium therein, as for example by repeated circulation through pump 80. While this is going on another batch of sodium metal or the like may be melting in tank 10. After the melted sodium or the like has been thoroughly mixed with the emulsifying medium in tank 49 the plug cook 44 is elevated permitting the contents of tank 48 to flow to the stator-rotor combination through conduit 12 and cap inlet 22. After being acted on in known manner in space 26 between the rotor and stator the dispersion or emulsion re sulting from this treatment is drawn off from the discharge chamber 28 through discharge conduit 30.

During the operations described herein the sodium or the like being emulsified or highly dispersed is maintained submerged in an inert liquid medium while being melted, mixed with the inert emulsifying medium, and emulsified. The apparatus comprises practical and economical means for truly emulsifying sodium or the like while it is submerged in oil or other inert medium with which receptacle as is filled.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a method and apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments might be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for emulsifying and the like in an inert liquid which comprises, a receptacle for an inert liquid, a stator mounted within the receptacle below the normal liquid level therein, a shaft extending through the receptacle wall, and a rotor mounted on said shaft for rotation within said stator, a cap for said stator-rotor combination having an inlet communicating with the space between said stator and rotor, a discharge port in said stator lead ing from the space between said stator and rotor, and a discharge conduit extending from said dis- Charge port through the wall of said receptacle, a tank within said receptacle, means for heating liquid within said receptacle to cause said liquid to serve as a heat transfer medium, conduit means passing into said receptacle to said tank, and extending below the normal liquid level within the receptacle to absorb heat from liquid me dium therein, valve means controlling said con-- duit means, and other conduit means leading from said tank to said cap inlet, and valve means controlling said other conduit means.

2. Apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like in an inert liquid which comprises, a receptacle for an inert liquid, a stator mounted within the receptacle below the normal liquid level therein, a shaft extending through the receptacle wall and a rotor mounted on a said shaft for rotation within said stator, a cap for said stator-rotor combination having an inlet communicating with the space between said stator and rotor, a discharge port in said stator leading from the space between said stator and rotor, and a discharge conduit extending from said discharge port through the wall of said receptacle, a tank within said receptacle, means for heating liquid within said receptacle to cause said liquid to serve as a heat transfer medium, conduit means passing into said receptacle to said tank, and extending below the normal liquid level within the receptacle to absorb heat from liquid medium therein, valve means controlling said conduit means, and other conduit means leading from said tank to said cap inlet, valve means controlling said conduit means, and other sodium metal conduit means communicating with said tank to supply gas into said tank for controlling the pressure within said tank.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 in which a second tank is provided in said receptacle in a position to be surrounded by liquid within said receptacle, and conduit means extending within said receptacle from said second chamber to said first chamber, a portion at least of said last mentioned conduit means being below the normal level of liquid Within said receptacle.

i. Apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like in an inert liquid comprising, a head portion of a colloid mill including a stator, a rotor within said stator, a liquid receptacle enclosing said colloid mill head portion, means for mounting said stator within said receptacle below the normal liquid level therein, a drive shaft extending into said receptacle through a wall of said receptacle, said rotor being mounted on the end of said shaft projecting into said receptacle, a colloid mill body portion positioned externally of said receptacle, and separated from said head portion by said wall of said receptacle, said body portion including means for supporting and driving said shaft, reservoir means for liquid material to be emulsified, conduit means extending between said reservoir means and said mill head portion to deliver liquid material from said reservoir means to the space between said stator and rotor, a discharge port communicating with the space between said stator and rotor, and a conduit extending from said discharge port through the receptacle wall, said shaft passing through said discharge port, and packing means is provided around said shaft to effect a liquid seal around said shaft externally of the receptacle wall, a chamber within said body portion surrounding said packing means, a liquid conduit communicating between said chamber and the interior of said reservoir to supply liquid for wetting and cooling said packing, a second conduit leading from said chamber back into said reservoir, and pump means communicating with said second conduit for returning liquid from said chamber to said reservoir through said second conduit.

5. Apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like in an inert liquid which comprises, a receptacle for an inert liquid, a stator mounted within the receptacle below the normal liquid level therein, a shaft extending through the receptacle wall, and a rotor mounted on said shaft for rotation within said stator, a cap for said stator-rotor combination having an inlet communicating with the space between said stator and rotor, a discharge port in said stator leading from the space between said. stator and rotor, a discharge conduit extending from said discharge port through the wall of said receptacle, means for rotating said shaft, conduit means extending to the said inlet of said cap below the normal liquid level in said receptacle to supply liquid to be treated between said rotor and stator, a packing gland surrounding said shaft, between the shaft and the receptacle wall, a conduit communicating through the receptacle wall, below the liquid level of the receptacle, between the liquid medium therein and the said packing gland to supply a stream of insert liquid to wet and cool said gland externally of the receptacle, and pump and conduit means for returning to the reservoir the liquid supplied to said packing gland.

6. Apparatus for emulsifying sodium metal and the like in an inert liquid which comprises, a

receptacle for an inert liquid, a tank for material to be emulsified positioned to be surrounded by liquid within said receptacle, a head portion of a colloid mill mounted within the receptacle below the normal liquid level therein, a drive shaft for said colloid mill head, said shaft extending through the receptacle wall, conduit means ex tending between said tank and said head portion, and a discharge conduit extending from said head portion through the receptacle wall.

'7. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 including pump means located within said receptacle and a plurality of conduit means connecting said pump with said tank for circulating liquid Within said tank.

8. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 in which a plurality of tanks are provided within said receptacle and positioned to be surrounded by liquid Within said receptacle and conduit means is provided interconnecting said plurality of tanks below the normal level of liquid Within said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

